Vancouver Island jogger fights off cougar

A man jogging in a remote area near Port Hardy managed to fight off a cougar that attacked him Aug. 1.

The man escaped with minor injuries, said Chris Doyle of the B.C. Conservation Officer Service. Officers searched for the cougar but did not locate it.

Doyle said there has been an increase in cougar sightings on the west side of Vancouver Island this year, and cougars and bears are the main animals involved in the more than 8,000 human-wildlife conflicts reported in B.C. since April 1.

Another cougar was located and destroyed near Invermere recently, after reports that the adult male was stalking hikers and joggers over a two-week period.

Doyle said people who see cougars, particularly near developed areas or showing interest in humans, should report the sightings directly to the Conservation Officer Service. Its 24-hour hotline is 1-877-7277 or #7277 on the Telus mobility network.